Service tray



July 27 1926. Q

- G. E. WHITNEY SERVI CE TRAY Filed Jan. 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 61 025 7. Mil/f zzy Jul 27,1926.

v G- E- WHITNEY SERVICE TRAY Filed Jan. 18, 192

2 sheets-sneak 2 Patented July 2?, l%@

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GEORGE E. WHITNEY, F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 SAMUEL ZIMMEB, OF BRIDGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT.

SERVICE TRAY.

Application filed January This invention relates to service trays, but more particularly has reference to such trays as are equipped with foldable legs,'and has for its object to provide an article of this description which shall be sanitary, strong and easy of manipulation.

The accompanying drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made in mere mechanical details all of which would be within the scope of the invention.

Referring to these drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tray constructed in accordance with this invention "with the legs distended.

Figure 2 is a bottom View of the struc ture shown at Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section at the line 3--3 29 Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but with the legs in folded condition.

Figure 5 is a section at the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and

Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary sections of slight modifications in the structure of the tray and the housing for the cross-rod of a pair of legs.

Similar numerals of reference denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawing. This invention comprises a body or tray proper 1 whose edges arebent or curled over a reenforcing wire 2, and foldable legs arranged in airs on the bottom of the tray as will now e particularly described.

Secured to the bottom of the tray at each end thereof are hanger housings 3, which are in spaced (pairs, one pair at each end of the tray, an rotatably extended within these housings are cross rods 4: whose central portions between the housings are formed into cranks 5, these rods immediately beyond the outer housings being ben at right angles to form legs 6, so that it will be clear that there is a pair of legs at each end of the tray.

These legs may be of any suitable length, and they are connected at their lower ends to feet 7 which are preferably made of wood or other suitable material and which not only stifi'en the legs but provide means for readily opening or folding the legs as will be presently explained.

18, 1926. Serial No. 82,073.

8 is an elongated resilient bar which is secured at its central portion to the bottom of the tray, while its ends extend at right angles to the cross bars and are provided with hooks 9 which are immediately below the axes of the cross rods.

When the legs are in folded position the cranks 5 will lie close to the bottom of the 'tray and the ends of the bar will overlap these cranks and the bar will by its resiliency retain the cranks in this position, which means that the folded position of the legs will be maintained by the pressure of the spring bar against these cranks as will be clearly understood by reference to Figures 3 and 5.

When it is desired to open the legs, the feet 7 are grasped and swung outwardly and this will cause the cranks 5 to force the ends of the spring bar 8 outwardly, until the cranks come opposite the hook portions 9 whereupon the resiliency of the spring bar 'will efiect the engagement of these hook portions and cranks so as to retain the legs in open position, and this will be readily understood by reference to Figures 2 and 4.

When it is desired to fold the legs, the ends of the bar 8 are sprung outwardly and the feet 7 are swung against the bottom of the tray. It will therefore. be clear that these feet are quite useful in the operation of the legs.

Instead of securing special hanger hous lugs to the bottom of the tray the ends of the latter when blanked out may have spaced extended portions which are bent inwardly around the reenforcing wire 2, as shown at Figure 6 in the instance of the extended portion 10, and the latter then bent to forma housingll for the cross rods the inner edge of this housing eing secured to the tray in any suitable manner.

Or, referring to Figure 7, a plate 12 could be secured to the bottom of the tray near the end edge thereof and bent to form a housing 13 and secured to the bottom of the tray in any suitable manner immediately beyond the housing.

While the modified forms of the housing members shown at Figures 6 and 7 possess more or less merit from a manufacturers standpoint, nevertheless it will be underportion 10 immediately beyond the stood that the construction of these housing members is a minor feature and that the invention is not limited in this respect.

What is claimed is A tray including a body, site substantiaily U-shaped leg members the cross parts of which are formed with cranks, means to movahly connect said cross parts to the bottom of the body and a resilient bar secured to the bottom of the body and having its ends formed with hooks which face the bottom of the body and receive the cranks therein to hold the leg members in operative a pair of oppo= bod GEORGE E. WHITNEY. 

